Google Maps Adds Street-Level Images

Google has announced it is introducing street-level images to its Google Maps online service, enabling users to see street-level, panoramic images in selected locations.

At the Where 2.0 conference in San Jose, Google announced new enhacements to its Web-based Google Maps which add street-level panoramic view to selected locations, plus Mapplets, which enable developers to create mini-programs which operate within Google Maps.

Google’s new Street View feature adds 360° street-level panorama photographs to selected locations, enabling users to get a ground-level understanding of an area directly within Google Maps. Although Google plans to roll out Street View photographs for additional locations over time, initially Street View is available for selected portions of San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York, Denver, and Miami.

Within Street View, users can zoom to increase the detail level of photographs (occasionally encountering puzzles pedestrians obvious curious what a 360° panoramic camera is doing in the middle of the street—some are even snapping pictures!) and follow roads’ direction of travel to move virtually up and down streets to get a feel for a location. The level of detail in the photographs often makes it possible to zoom in on street signs and business signs. (In a couple tests, I was able to pull up signs indicating when parking was allowed, and read the business hours posted on a shop door.)

Google also announced Mapplets, another addition to Google Maps which let third-party developers create gadget-like applications which can run within Google Maps. Examples of Mapplet applications might include programs which pull up housing listings, crime statistics, or offer distance measurement between different locations. Users can select between a variety of Mapplets created by Google and third party developers to create their own “mashup” maps within the Google Maps site. Initial partners for Mapplets include Weatherbug, Booking.com, and Platial.